HERAT: More than 20 armed men crossed the border from Iran into Afghanistan and entered a town, a police commander said in the first such blunt claim by a high-ranking Afghan official.

Colonel Rahmatullah Safi - police commander in the three western provinces of Farah, Badghis and Herat - said according to intelligence information, the group of armed militants crossed the border Monday in Farah's Anardara district.

"Two pickup trucks with over 20 armed people riding in them crossed the border from Iran to Afghanistan," Safi said in his Border Police headquarters, 15 km outside Herat city.

He said according to intelligence information, the men were heading towards Zirkoh area in Farah province, which has been the site of escalating militant activity in recent months.

Safi said the police did not have the opportunity to track down the vehicles but said he had informed President Hamid Karzai and international forces in the country.

"I can say with certainty that the vehicles came from Iranian soil, and if they came from Iran with ammunitions and explosives, of course, they are supported by the Iranian government."

"If the Iranian border forces really want to stop them, they can," he added. "They have one outpost every five to 10 km."

Safi's report of the infiltration comes at a time when US officials have linked Iran's government to large shipments of weaponry to militants in Afghanistan, but Karzai and other Afghan officials have ruled out Iran's involvement and Tehran has also strongly denied funnelling weapons to Afghan militants.

Safi also revealed that during fighting Saturday night between Afghan police and insurgents in the Shindand district of Herat province, which left nine suspected Taliban and two police officers dead, police found the remains of Iranian-made bullets.

He also showed DPA five anti-tank mines that had Iranian markings, which he said were seized at the Afghan-Iran border about two weeks ago.

Safi said his police forces had information that former mujahideen fighters, who forced Soviet forces from Afghanistan and later plunged the country into a bloody civil war, were receiving training in Iranian territory and were sent back to Afghanistan to carry out attacks against the government and international forces.

In April, US officials said Iranian-made weapons had showed up in the hands of the Taliban. The Pentagon's top general, Peter Pace, said NATO forces in Afghanistan had seized Iranian-made mortars and explosives destined for the Taliban.

Last week, a top US State Department official charged in a CNN interview that the US has "irrefutable evidence" that Iran is arming Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

Although not mimicking the strong nature of Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns' remarks, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said a day later that large weapons' shipments were crossing from Iran into Afghanistan and it was unlikely Tehran did not know about them.

"Given the quantities that we're seeing, it is difficult to believe that it is associated with smuggling or the drug business or that it's taking place without the knowledge of the Iranian government," Gates said.

Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, however, rejected Iran's involvement in supplying militants in a media interview, arguing that Kabul and Tehran have good relations and a stable Afghanistan is in Iran's interest. He said there was evidence weapons were coming from Iran but suggested they were from the Al Qaeda terrorist network or drug traffickers.

Gates also mentioned the good relations between the Afghan and Iranian government. "Whether Iran is trying to play both sides of the street, hedge their bets, what their motives are, other than causing trouble for us, I don't know," the US defence chief said.

Safi said his police forces had information that former mujahideen fighters, who forced Soviet forces from Afghanistan and later plunged the country into a bloody civil war, were receiving training in Iranian territory and were sent back to Afghanistan to carry out attacks against the government and international forces.

The notion that Mujahideen (or Pasthun Taliban for that matter) need any "training" from Iranians in how to fight in Stan....it completely absurd.

Lets get our big guns down there to the south and blow the living crap out of these Islamo-Facists.
and wipe out their Gas Refinery now! and drop a few on the Capital Govt offices for good measure. then sink every ship they have in the river.
lets get going!!

Between this and the crossings into the Iraqi British sector, who knows. Maybe their brazen allowance to support al Qaeda and the Talaban has reached the point where they don't care who sees what. Of course the Iranian official position is they know nothing about it. Perhaps we shall start reading about how our Marine,Navy, and Airforce aviators and pilots are making full use of their FLIR PODS and laser guided bombs soon, in wiping out cars and truck convoys proceeding out of Iran.

I don’t know about that. You may know this already, but the Afghans Mujahideen did not use IEDs, especially of likes Iran is providing. This type of warfare was really perfected by Hizbollah in Lebanon and used by the Chechens more recently. I do think the Afghan Mujahideens could learn from the Iranians, for example, how to operate sophisticated Chinese made SAMs of the MANPAD type.

Gates also mentioned the good relations between the Afghan and Iranian government. "Whether Iran is trying to play both sides of the street, hedge their bets, what their motives are, other than causing trouble for us, I don't know," the US defence chief said.

Shouldn't he have a more certain understanding, he's the man in charge on the ground there. He did get the one part right, about them causing trouble for US troops.

The push by Hamas in Gaza, an Iranian-supported move, the arms they’re buying from Russia for Syria, and the support for terrorists, al Qaeda and Shia militias, in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon may have convinced them they can get away with whatever they’d like to do. And, after all, with Nancy and Harry Reid telling them they’re winning, they probably don’t feel there is much risk of repercussions.

You have to wonder what it will take for the US Military to respond to Iranian provocation? Has the current polical climate in the United States forced President Bush to stand emasculated before Iranian escalation? Does President Bush really believe that the last election mandated surrender and weakness in the face of aggression?

All you say is accurate. They are in for a real let down once we start dropping all their jets coming up to protect them once the proverbial *hit hits the fan. And we taint spending big bucks for the Airforce to perfect those new generation super deep nuclear tipped buster bombs just to drop a few in the desert. GWB is around for another year and a half. A lot can happen in that time frame.

I do believe he feels weakened, as well he should. The opposition at its highest levels have questioned his motives, said they were duped into the war by a dope, claimed he lied to them, claimed he went to war only for oil, claimed he only went to war to avenge his dad, spread hysteria and defeatism, and done all they can to encourage our enemies. Pelosi pranced over to see one of the greatest threats to Middle East peace, like some latter-day Neville Chamberlain, and tried to defund the troops in the field. No doubt the public too has wearied of the war, and many on our side would rather fight borders isse and the Mexican illegals than those who are regularly killing Americans. So Bush probably does feel weakened.

Keep in mind that certain Democrats tried to pass a law essentially making it impossible for the president to attack Iraq. In other words, they’re more concerned with making the world safe for the mad mullahs than for our service members in Iraq.

Your right. President Bush probably feels that any new front he opens up in the War on Terror will result in impeachment proceeding by the surrender and run crowd in Congress. But he should do it anyway.

Gates also mentioned the good relations between the Afghan and Iranian government. "Whether Iran is trying to play both sides of the street, hedge their bets, what their motives are, other than causing trouble for us, I don't know," the US defence chief said.

I don’t think he’s been good at making the case. He seems to think if it’s obvious to him then everyone else will agree. He doesn’t seem to realize the opposition doesn’t care if we lose. In fact, they want that so they can say it’s another Vietnam.

IED warfare is not rocket science....And there are plenty within the Mujahideen/ Taliban / Uzbek / Chechens that know more then enough for such type of warfare - Reality is Stan doesn't lend itself to such warfare as well as urban areas like Iraq - (but it is still a concern....just not on the same level at all).

As for MANPADs, again the Taliban / Chechens don't need any training whatsoever from Iranians....They'd teach them a thing or two in all reality.

No, the notion of Iranians teaching the Mujahideen or Taliban about fighting in Stan....is just foolishness. It is not needed.

The IED technology has evolved, and the Chinese MANPADS are not identical to our Stingers. I do think every tool has its own idiosyncrasies. When we field a new weapon, we send trainers to our soldiers. Plus, the people Iran is training are probably not the very same ones who’ve been fighting for the last 30 years.

I trust Bush. There’s something liberating about a 28% approval rating - it’s as though it cannot get any worse. I know the Iranians will misread that fact, but I trust the President will unload on them at the right time. It’s going to be a long, hot summer.

42
posted on 06/25/2007 7:48:18 PM PDT
by Wally_Kalbacken
(Seldom right but never in doubt)

You just lost me there. Anyone who will take the oath of office, to only then proceed to sell US Sovereignty away, and to try to give amnesty to 20 million illegal invaders, all while supposedly fighting a war on terror....

Of course (regarding new systems all having their own idiosyncrasies)...but there is more then enough military knowhow within the Mujahideen, Taliban, Chechen, Uzbek fighters community to handle and learn such new syncrasies...

Iran is without question giving aid, weapons and some limited training I'd suspect to Shia fighters in Iraq....but the notion they are giving training of any real value of level to the fighters we are facing in Stan....I just don't buy (hell, we'd be better off if they do....The guys we are fighting in Stan are much more proficient then are the Iranians).

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